- What the hell is going on?!

Dung clutched his nose as he gazed at beginner village's streets with disbelief and fear

The streets were littered with corpses. Terrible stench permeated the air and crows were feasting on mutilated dead bodies

In the mix of corpses of NPCs and players there were soldiers dressed in black armor. Their numbers were much lower.

,, They couldn't resist much ''

Dung thought and stepped over couple of corpses while appraising some

[ Pawn

Status: Dead ]

The black armored soldiers weren't exactly like chess pieces and looked like actual people, wielding different types of weapons. Dung had no idea how skillful they were but looking at ratio of corpses, they shouldn't be simple soldiers and must have some intellect to use tactics. Otherwise, players would kill much more of them if they went straight on, even though level range of players in beginner village was merely 1-20 while pawns were at least level 30

Suddenly Dung felt alarmed as he analyzed

,, Pawns killed by NPCs won't drop any items. As for enemies killed by players should have dropped something. Though players were weak in this area, they should have killed at least some of them. The players should not have had chance to pick up dropped items in the fierce battle. There is not any sort of dropped item anywhere in sight. That means...somebody was here before me, they might not have left yet ''

Knowing he wasn't alone and not knowing other party's intentions, Dung kept being more vigilant

Items which didn't drop couldn't be picked by players. This rule remained even after all the changes. Even if you killed sword master, you couldn't pick his sword up if it wasn't in drops as it was bound item. Of course things like ownerless items could easily be picked

NPCs were opposite, they couldn't see any dropped items and could only loot what was in sight

It was a peculiar rule the world still worked on

,, Where's master? ''

Suddenly Dung's heart started beating harder. Knowing her bold character, there was no way she would escape

Dung passed through streets full of corpses and finally reached the training grounds

He was shocked by what he saw

Piles of black armored soldiers were sprawled in the yard. The ground was painted with blood

Dung gulped down in fear and kept on going

In the circle of black armored corpses was a lone figure, pierced by 10 spears from all sides. Her head hung low as she was hung 10 centimeters above ground, spears holding her body up

Even if Dung considered himself apathetic person in some cases, he couldn't hold back his tears, but he didn't allow them to flow, instead he smiled

- Heroic death, befitting for my master...

He approached the figure with heartache and knelt down on the ground

This world was real, the people were also real. Dung had already realized this fact

Master Yulin had died and would never come back

Neither would dead players revive

If he died he would have no more chance

Dung felt hatred enveloping his heart, but didn't know where to direct it

Was it the army? No, was it the game industry? Probably, was there something else? Most likely

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

- I won't forgive those in fault

Dung muttered a promise and rose, leaving with much firmer resolve and determination, but suddenly he halted his steps. Faint voice sang in his ears softly. He recognized that voice

- We haven't known each other for long, but this won't stop me from believing in you. The world needs savior, my dear disciple, I won't burden you with my expectations, but...promise master you will help those in need and be the light of hope for those around you in the upcoming terrible war

Following that, system notification rang in his ears

[ You have inherited master Yulin's will

Follow your inner heart and don't go astray in the path which will show you the most terrifying side of humanity

Faith + 5 ]

Dung sighed as he muttered while walking away

- I'm sorry master, I'm neither the light you spoke of nor the savior you must have hoped I would become. I'm nothing but another player, stuck in this place. All I can do for now is survive. If I ever have the power, I will seek answers on my own, but until then, everything is just a joke. After all, I am very weak...

He came back in a while with shovel in hands and dug a hole near the willow tree and curved her name on the simple stone and payed his respects

The training house became nothing but rubble along with other buildings. The people were dead. This place became nothing but history

The single person sat near sole surviving training dummy, which was barely standing and quietly trained his vampirism domain

He would occasionally take out fish from inventory, find some small branches, use lighter and grill it before silently eating, taking out clean stored lake water, drinking it and continuing his practice

When the night fell, Dung sat down with his back against willow tree and hung his head

Only dim light from nearby bonfire lighted the place of small radius

Dung would occasionally get up and add some branches to bonfire, then continue resting

He got used to the smell of blood and rotting corpses which was in the air

He knew staying here for more than 2 days would be dangerous as he might get strange disease from staying near rotting corpses, but he needed to bring vampirism domain to higher level to have more chance at surviving

At midnight seemingly sleeping Dung muttered his lips and directed his wand

- Dark bolt

The following system message surprised him and made him more alert

- 11

- How did you find me?

Surprised voice sounded from behind trees

Dung leisurely sat down on log close to crackling bonfire and watched as figure slowly revealed itself

The voice was familiar, but he couldn't instantly remember, but seeing approaching silhouette, Dung grinned and started grilling fish without care

- Air filled with stench of blood on one hand and then there's female fragrance, discernible

Metallic sound of sword unsheathing sounded as the approaching figure blushed like an apple

Dung silently appraised her

[ Elise11

Level 9

HP: 340 ]

She was the one who bought worn out wedding ring from her, squandering 50 silvers

- You...scoundrel!

Dung's grinning figure turned solemn and he asked

- You've been lingering around for a while, why?

Elise humphed and sat down opposite to him

- Why else if not for being so mysterious? Level 1 shaman surviving this hellish massacre, ridiculous

- Warrior using stealth and escaping army's detection, that's more ridiculous...did you loot everything here?

Dung abruptly asked what's been bothering him

- What, you want a share?

Elise gave him look of disdain

- So it really was you, I'm glad there are no others at least

It didn't feel good to be underestimated. Elise frowned and clutched the hilt of her sword

- Do you think I'm no threat to newbie level 1 like you?

Unfortunately her tough front was seen through by Dung and he replied innocently

- Why would you try to kill me? I've done nothing wrong

Elise eased her grip on hilt and replied sullenly

- Humph, the world has turned like this, who would care about your cheap life?

- True, but I believe you won't kill me

Dung shamelessly replied

- Why are you so sure?

Elise squinted her eyes

- Because you have no reason to, besides, I think I can judge people's characters to some extent

- ...

- Are you hungry?

- N, no

- Don't worry, it's not poisoned

Dung chuckled and took a bite

- Ouch, it's hot, ffuuu, ffuuu

He rolled his tongue out and breathed excessively

- He he, serves you right

Elise chuckled and grabbed a fish with its stick

The duo silently ate the fish. Dung took out some salt he stole from Azerott's house, he wouldn't need it anymore anyway. They found comfort in presence of each other. The whole village was bathed in blood, they were the only survivors. The atmosphere was depressing, especially at night

After dinner Elise told Dung about invasion, how everyone was unprepared, how they died gruesomely and how terrifying the wave of soldiers were. Elise couldn't hide fear in her tone. After speaking for about an hour Elise seemed to have told everything she wanted and was feeling much better

,, What tough woman ''

Dung thought and sighed. Not everyone could handle psychological pressure from witnessing such hell, especially in new era, where wars were rare and living condition of people have improved

The game gave some kind of familiarity to these kind of scenes, but not much due to its adjustments, besides both Elise and Dung were more or less newbies and they were thrown into new world, which was real, where threat of death was high

Elise was tired from today's happenings both physically and mentally. It was also midnight and she fell asleep while huddling her knees with both arms

Dung sighed as he looked at defenseless beauty and felt better

Such person wasn't calculative and manipulator. He would feel safe to have her as a companion

He kept adding wood to bonfire from time to time and fought back against sleepiness as he kept his vigilance

Since it was his first time pulling all nighter he too fell asleep when first rays of sun rose from the horizon